He died in a hospital awaiting surgery after falling and breaking his femur about a week ago, Jeanne Rescigno, wife of the conductor Joseph Rescigno, Nicola's nephew, said.
Mr. Rescigno (pronounced resh-EEN-yo) was a favorite conductor of Maria Callas, conducting her American debut in 1954 at what was then the Chicago Lyric Theater, which he helped found. His performances included the United States debuts of Joan Sutherland, Plcido Domingo, Jon Vickers, Montserrat Caball and Magda Olivero at the Dallas Opera, which he also helped start.
He conducted several world and American premiers of significant operas and appeared at many of the world's major opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera, at which he led at least four operas.
Nicola Rescigno was born in Manhattan on May 28, 1916. His father was a trumpeter at the Met for 30 years and played briefly at the New York Philharmonic. Nicola was educated at an Italian boarding school and earned a law degree from Sapienza University in Rome. He returned to New York and studied at the Juilliard School.
He made his debut at the Brooklyn Academy of Music with the Salmaggi Company, which produced quality opera at popular prices. At 27 Mr. Rescigno began conducting for the San Carlo Opera, a touring company, as well as conducting operatic music with various orchestras in Central Park and other places in the New York region.
